The real-life tragedy of Adrienne Shelly’s murder in a botched apartment robbery hangs over this, her last completed screenplay lovingly made into this sinister romantic comedy produced by her husband Andy Ostroy and directed by her co-star in Waitress, Larry David’s television wife, Cheryl Hines. Louise (Meg Ryan), a highpower uberwoman will do anything-yes, anything-to keep her husband, Ian (Timothy Hutton), from leaving her for a younger woman. Believing they belong together no matter what, she duct tapes him to a toilet. And that is just the beginning of the ensuing mayhem, reminiscent of the frightening Funny Games.

Ryan, the reigning queen of romantic comedy in Nora Ephron’s Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, her lines in Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally are quotable. Here, as Louise, she loses the sweet edge that made her roles so charismatic in these Meg Ryan classics. Still wily and comedic, she is more cunning-as she was in the recent The Women remake, so you feel less invested in her winning, even as Shelly’s script deftly maneuvers your sympathies in favor of marriage.

Though this is Hines’ directorial debut, said cinematographer Nancy Schreiber at the screening’s after party at Rouge Tomate, she had a vision for how to make the film, and worked like a seasoned pro with the actors. Everyone exulted in the audience’s laughter at the humor in Adrienne Shelly’s creation, a bittersweet reminder of her loss. The foundation created in her name awarded a director’s grant to Christina Beck.

Hines, in a red cocktail dress could not have been friendlier, even after I veered away from Serious Moonlight to ask her about her character Cheryl’s breakup and final reconciliation with television husband Larry on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

That romantic view of marriage resonates: “You know, they just belong together,” she said sweetly